Parcel-post scale.



v E. B. PRIDDY.

PARCEL POST SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22. 1914.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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PARCEL POST SCALE.

APPLICATION men OCT.22, I914.

1,205,564. Patented Nov. 21, 1910 3 SHEETSSHEET 2- p6 /A/v/v70/?- w x 5791207 7 0&

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PARCEL POST SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 22, 1914 1 205,564 Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

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Z3 Z7 Z8 (gmersorz 15. Przdqq unrrn alert I EMERSON B. PRIDDY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THEPABCEL POST SCALE 00., F LOGANSPORT,INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 191%..

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EMnnsoN B. PRIDDY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Parcel-Post Scales, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in scales of the spring type anddesigned particularly for use in connection with the weighing of parcelpost packages, the main essential of the invention providing for suchoperation as will prevent any confusion in determining the proper weightof the article. v

The present invention is directed particularly to the use of a rotatabledial which under weight pressure indicates through the appropriate oneof a series of apertures the weight numerals, and the combination withsuch scale of means whereby the numeral dial may be shifted or spaced toindicate a single weight indicating numeral through the particularopening, with a view to eliminating the confusion incident to theappearance through such opening of adjacent weight numerals, with theconsequent inability to tell which is the proper numeral.

The salient feature of the present invention resides therefore in whatmay be termed spacing means for the dial so that under weight action thedial may be shifted to eliminate all but the proper numeral, therebyinsuring rapidity and absolute correctness in the weighing operation.

The invention in its essential details of construction will be'describedin the following specification, reference being had particularly to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure A is a side elevation of the improved scale. Fig. 2 is a frontelevation of the same. Fig. is an enlarged broken elevation of thecasing with the dial therein. Fig. Al is a rear elevation with the rearwall of the casing removed. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5--5 of Fig. l.Fig. 6 is a broken perspective showing the dial connection and operatingmeans. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 8 is a rearelevation of the dial. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the same. Fig. is aperspective view of the operative parts, with the dial and casingremoved.

The present scale is designed particularly for parcel post use and isconstructed with a view for the rapid weighing of parcel post packageswherein the rate for any zone as well as the weight of the particularparcel will be indicated.

The present scale is designed for use as a spring scale and that portiondirected particularly to the supporting and spring structure may bebriefly described as follows, it being understood that the structure islargely conventional and designed merely with a view to accomplishingthe desired function.

The scale structure comprises a base 1 on which is supported a fulcrumframe 2 in the uprights of which is fixed a rod 3. lhe rod supports amovable or platform frame including a horizontally arrangedsection 4:supported directly upon the rod 3 for pivotal movement and an uprightframe section 5 pivotally connected to the rear portion of the sectiona. The upright section directly supports a platform 6, and to saidsection 5 is pivotally connected a guiding frame 7 of U-shape, and whichat a point remote from the frame 5 is pivotally mounted upon a rod 8.The rods 3 and 8 are supported in an appropriately arranged holdingframe 9 secured to the base and having a transverse section 10 overlyingthe cross bar 11 of the frame 5. cured at one end to a lower cross barof the frame 5, and is connected at the upper end to an adjusting rod 14secured at its upper end in the cross bar 10, an adjusting nut 15 beingthreaded upon the rod l t for adjust ing the tension of the spring 12 inthe usual manner.

A simple means is provided for preventing'undue vibration of the partsin the weighing operation, said means involving a lever 16 fulcrumedupon an upright 17 rising from the base and provided with an adjustingmeans 18 at the short end, and connected through the medium of a spring19 with the base at the long end. An angularly arranged finger 20projects from the frame a, and underlies the lever 16 adjacent itspivot. A suitable casing as 21 incloses the operating parts, beingprovided with openings'22 for the passage ofthe upright portions of theframe 5, so that the platform 6 may be supported above the casing. Theface wall 23 of the casing includes spaced inner and outer walls 24,connected by side and end walls to form a hollow housing.

A p g 2 is The outer wall of the housing constitutes the face plate ofthe scale, and in the instance shown is provided with a longitudinal rowof perforations disposed on each side of the center and constituting thereading openings, being the openings through which the scale marks onthe dial hereinafter referred to are visible. In the present instance,reading these openings from left to right the first opening indicatesthe Weight, the next opening indicates the local rate of postage, whilethe succeeding openings indicate the different zones as classified underthe parcel post regulation. Below each opening in succession are printedlimit indications with respect to each opening, as for example theweight opening has indicated therebelow the limit weight of the scale,while each of the zone openings, the mileage limitations of the zone.

Rotatably mounted in the face housing is the dial 26, the same having afixed pivot rod 27 terminating in bearing points 28 in advance and rearof the dial. The pivot point in advance seats in a suitable bearing 29in the rear of the face plate, and the rear bearing point is supportedfor adjustment in a bearing rod 30 threaded-through a frame 31 securedto the rear wall of the face housing, the frame strip 31 being centrallyand rearwardly offset from said plate to accommodate the parts. Thepivot rod 27 is provided with a toothed annular surface 32, forming ineffect a pinion fixed to the pivot rod. The forward end of the frame 4is provided with an operating member 38 formed with a longitudinalopening 34 designed to receive the pinion 32 and one edge of the openingis formed as a gear rack 35 to cooperate with the pinion and rotate thedial in the movement of the supporting frame under the weight of thearticle on the platform. I

The face of the dial, or that surface next the face wall of the casingis formed with a series of concentric rows 36 divided by radial lines 37to form spaces 38, in which latter are arranged appropriate data tocorrespond with the openings 25, it being understood that one of theopenings registers with each ofthe concentric rows and that the openingsare so formed and of such a size as to correspond with the spaces of theparticular row. The indicating data on certain of the rows is reversedwith respect to that on the other, as the openings are on opposite sidesof the center and with any other arrangement a proper reading could notbe had.

So far as described, assuming such novelty as may exist in thestructure, the device provides an ordinary spring scale designedparticularly for parcel post purposes. It is obvious however that aparticular article may, under its weight influence on the scale,

will necessarily be the correct reading as the parcel post regulationsdo not consider fractions of pounds, and hence the maximum rating of thedual or double condition above not-ed is the proper rating. Theinvention therefore broadly contemplates a means capable of manualoperation, which is constructed to a view to causing a shifting orstep-up movement of the dial, and while I will hereinafter describe asimple type of such device it is to be understood that such is primarilyfor the purposes of illustration and is nowise intended as a limitation.In carrying out this detail of the invention I secure upon the rearsurface of the dial 26 a rear disk 40 having the teeth corresponding innumber to the number of spaces 38 on the face of the dial. Pivot-allymounted upon the rod 3 is a lever 41, connected with the base in rear ofthe pivot through the I medium of spring 42, and having its rear endseated in a guide 43 and adapted to receive an adjusting screw 44whereby the movement of. the lever against the influence of the springis adjustably limited. To the forward end of the lever is secured anangle bar 45, the approximately horizontal portion of which extendsthrough the side wall of the casing and terminates in a button or fingerpiece 46. The upright portion of the angle bar is adjustably connectedthrough a screw and slot connection 47 with a limiting lever 48,pivotally supported on the face casing wall with its inner end 49 ofl-setand terminating in a somewhat pointed end. The parts are sopositioned that the pointed end of the lever 48 will cooperate with theteeth of the gear disk 40, said teeth being slightly flattened at. theirouter ends. pointed end of the lever 48 swings through an arcintersecting the radius of the dial and the disk 40 at the engagedtooth-0f the latter so that the dial is positively moved in a forwarddirection.

In operation, assuming the condition wherein the article being weighedso adjusts the dial as to indicate to the particular openingcorresponding to the desired condition, two data bearing spaces 38. Thebut- -ton 46 is then pressed upon causing the lever 48 to engage aparticular tooth, and step-up or shift the dial so that the spacebearing the maximum data indication will be properly and perfectlyalined with the opening. All possible confusion is thus The nacaseaavoided, and the scale becomes capable of extremely rapid use whileembodying a certainty of result coupled with the complete elimination ofany guess work as to what the proper scale indicating data may be.

As previously stated the salient feature of the invention resides inthis shifting or step-up operation of the dial, and believing suchfunction to be broadly new in weight adjusting dials it is to beparticularly understood that any and all means for the accomplishment ofthis object, that may fall within the scope of the appended claims, arecontemplated as within the spirit of the present invention, and thatsame may be used in connect gn With any appropriate weighing mechanism,whether spring controlled or otherwise.

What is claimed "is:

1. In a scale, a casing provided with a sight opening, a weightinfluenced dial lo cated in the casing and bearing a set of rates whichare displayed progressively through said opening and, which increase invalue in direct proportion to the progression of the weight units, andmeans for positively shiftingthe dial forwardly independently of itsmovement under the infiuence of the weight units to present a singlerate reading only through said opening, said means being movable in adirection intersecting the radius of the dial at the point of engagementof the said means.

2. In a scale, a casing provided with a sight opening, a weightinfluenced dial located in the casing and bearing a set of rates whichare progressively displayed through said opening and which increase invalue in direct proportion to the progression of the weight units, andmeans for positively shifting the dial forwardly independently of itsmovement under the influence of the weight ,units to present the highestonly of two rate readings displayed through said opening under theweight units, said means being movable in a direction intersecting theradius of the dial at the point of engagement of the said means.

3. in a scale, a weight influenced dial bearing a set of rates arrangedprogressively in increasing yalues in direct proportion to theprogression of the weight units, and means'for positively shifting thedial forwardly independently of its movement under the influence of theweight units to shift the dial so as to present the rate readings to aposition beyond that which the weight units have positioned same, saidmeans being movable in a direction intersecting the radius ofthe dial atthe point of engagement of. the said means.

4. The combination with a data bearing scale din], of means having alimited movement in the direction of the rotation of the dial forshifting said dial in one direction a weight influenced data bearingdial ar-.

ranged to present the data through said opening, and manually operablemeans for positively shifting the dial forwardly to insure registry ofproper data with the opening, to the exclusion of other data, said meansbeing movable in a direction intersecting the radius ofthe dial at thepoint of engagement of the said means.

7. The-combination of a data bearing.

scale dial, a gear disk connected with the dial and a lever movable,into an outer engagement with the teeth of the gear disk, said leverbeing movable through an arc intersecting the radius of the disk at theengaged tooth.

8. A data bearing scale dial including a gear disk' fixed to the dial,and means for shifting the dial including a lever cotiperating with saidgear teeth, and adjustable means for imparting a limiting movement tosaid lever.

9. The combination with a data bearing scale dial, of means forimparting an independent step-up movement to said dial in the directionof the forward rotation of the same and in accordance with the datathereon, said means being movable in a direction intersecting the radiusof the dial at the point of engagement of the said means.

10. The combination with a data bearing scale dial, of means forimparting an independent step-up movement to said dial in the directionof the forward rotation of the same, and in accordance with the datathereon, said means being movable in a direction intersecting the radiusof the dial at the point of engagement of the said means and locking thedial against movement.

11. The combination with a scale dial bearing data successivelyincreasing in the direction of movement of the dial under weightinfluence, of manually operable means movable in the direction of theforward rotation of the dial for imparting a limited independentmovement to said dial in the direction of the successively increasingdata, said means being movable in a "direction intersecting the radiusof the dial at the point of engagement of the said means.

eoaeee l3.-=1he+:ombination with a data bearing Weight influenced scaledial ofmanually operable means having a limited movement in thedirection of the forward rotation of the dial for shifting the latter toa degree controlled by the position of the data thereon, and adjustingmeans for controlling the degree of movement of the manually operablemeans.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

' EMERSON B. PRIDDY. Witnesses:

L. W. @0011, GEORGE J. OL'rsoH.

